SABC News -April 23, 2002
Hopes for an end to months of political chaos in Madagascar have been jaded by the refusal of hardline supporters of President Didier Ratsiraka to comply with one of the key provisions of a reconciliation accord.
Last night, provincial governors said they would not remove roadblocks on routes leading to the capital, a stronghold of self-declared president Marc Ravalomanana, until he dismantled his parallel government.
Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana signed a pact in the Senegalese capital Dakar Thursday, in which they agreed to lift all roadblocks as part of a package of measures to restore normalcy to Madagascar, in turmoil since a December presidential election.
"I hope Didier Ratsiraka is aware of the governors' decision because otherwise this is very, very dangerous as it means he no longer controls his troops," one of Ratsiraka's closest aides said.
Others in Ratsiraka's camp have said they felt betrayed by his signing of the Dakar deal. The day after the Dakar agreement was signed, Ravalomanana said he might consider the deal to be null and void if the roadblocks were not removed within "a few days."
Many other observers, including local independent journalists, point out that many in Ratsiraka's camp, such as ministers and family members, his daughter Sophie in particular, have a great deal to lose if Ravalomanana comes out of the post-election crisis on top.
"They are playing with fire and that can be dangerous when people have been through months of deprivation because of the shortages brought about by the roadblocks," warned one diplomat.
Roadblocks in response by Ratsiraka supporters
Ratsiraka, who has led Madagascar for all but five years since a coup in 1975, was challenged in December's presidential poll by Ravalomanana, the popular mayor of Antananarivo. Official results gave neither an absolute majority, but Ravalomanana said the figures were rigged and in February proclaimed himself president and set about establishing an alternative administration, based in the capital.
In response, Ratsiraka's backers set up roadblocks aimed at cutting off the supply of vital goods and fuel to the capital. Over the weekend, the governor of northwestern Mahajanga province removed the main roadblock on the key route into Antanananarivo in order to comply with the Dakar accord.
But several sources said he had the roadblock put back yesterday, following pressure from other governors. There has been no word from Ratsiraka, who is currently in France, since the Dakar deal was signed.
The agreement also called for a transitional government to be set up if a recount now underway of the votes cast in the December poll shows that neither Ravalomanana nor Ratsiraka won the absolute majority required to take the presidency. The transitional government's chief task will be to organise a referendum to decide who will be Madagascar's next president. - Sapa-AFP